Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-07-18
A STATE INSTITUTE \.
A Visit 20 the Austin Home for the Inc
sane-Its Present Excellent Con-
ditiGn and Fine Management.
An Institution to which the State Should
Always give of it's Abundance Free.
" and Willingly.

| points OF interest in 9ud about it are so
manifold, and each one il itself so replete
with that which causes one to feel Justly
proud Of our state government in al its
various departments, that it is no easy
matter to decide which enc furnishes that
| character Of news which is u the deepest
interest to the people at large.
One might I'll columns CT a newspaper
with description CT the new capitol,
soon TO rC-eCho with the voices of those
who, sent thitlsr By their various con-
stituents, are striving with G. most lGud-
able emulation to enSCt such lSws IS will
| sid in putting down crime and furtheung
| the material prosperity Of the state. The
University, Handicapped as it is, by
the shor. sighted, penny wise snd pound
( foolish financial policy Of certain dema-
gogues. accomplishing for the states
educational interests more than was ever
! dreamed Of before, could furnish more
| than sufficient for one correspondence TO
! THE GAZETTE. And so I might enumeCs
ate the other public institutions, wiich,
| by the way, belong not TO Austin, but 10
| the state, ard hence II sll nsttsrI per-
! tanning 10 these institutions it should be
remembered that whatever is OF 8dyant-
sgc to them contributes pro tantO 10
the advantage Of the state at large, and
not to shy one locality. After careful
consideration, l believe the work Of no
! institution can appeal more 10 the nOOler
feelings Of mar, those feelings which
prove 10 cur minds that we
are not descended from some
branch Of the brute creation,
but are closely allied in kinship to the
source Of ali good, tnGD that Of the re-
treat TO which are consigned all these
whose reasoning powers are so impaired
IS TO rendeTgthem no longer amenGble TO
the laws OF God and men. This work,
far more than any other carried on by the
state, interests The citizen individually,
not as part Of any poiitico-soc!al fabric.
but as member Of the great human fam
lily. Hence, we should know the Ch2raC-
ter Of this work, CT those into whose
hands 1t has been placed, and whether its
chief characteristic is, as II should be,
mercy and patience for these poor unfOr
Inmates.
Upon entering the grounds, one car but
feel mat nature has more than performed
her par. towards providing . site in every
way adapted TO the work in hand: ard,
when coupled with the efforts # man, as
already made in the grounds, and those
continually being made, one feels cor
vinCed that, if the inner workings of the
asylum be in accord with the outer ap
pesraEce of nature, the people Of the
state can rest assured that ell is well
with those so fearfuLIy afflicted.
We were received most cordially by the
officers Of the institution, and were made
at once to feel that gentlemen. 10 the full
est meaning Of the 'erm, were in charge.
The present administration consists of
app0inJees CT Governor Ross, they taking
possession on the j.h Of last February.
The superintendent, DR.. j. $. Dorset, |
has, IS unquestionably evidenced " his |
work, proven himself well worthy Of this
great charge entrusted 10 him by the !
Governor; and g reckoning Of his stew !
grdship would entitle him and MS able |
cO-workers to the ward due those VINO |
have faithfully performed their duty: |
"Well done, good and faithful servants" !
The buildings are four in number, con-
sistiGg Of the main building, the west !
wing Of which, constructed within the /
last few years, is devoted wholly to fe- !
males hite-Ot whom, together with |
the negroes OF that seX, there are 277; the |
center portion, occupied by the officers, |
as is also the center of the west wing; !
the east wing, occupied by the male pa
tients-white. Then, east Of this build |
ing, the hospital, two story !
structure, the upper floor devoted |
to male patients, the lower floor |
TO female patients. The hospital is used |
for these patients, whose physical health |
demand special care and treatment /
North of these two bulldogs are the |
laundry, which is q marvel 10 itsef, and !
large stone building, for males, the |
upper floor being for negroes. The negro |
females are dOmlciled in the basement Of |
the east end of the main building, and the |
eastern portion OF the building, the west. |
eTn portion of which is used for the |
laundry. In addition to these buildings,
are the stables, and @ hall devoted |
70 entertainments for the patients, |
dancing, theatriCals, concerts, etc, !
which form no small part Of g |
patients life here, and which are /
considered most beneficial. Owing to the |
fact that the last Legislature refused to !
make any appropriation for this feature |
of the work here, the entertainments are /
voluntary contributions by the attendants |
towards the recreation Of The patients. |
All the buildings are supplied with water .
from the waterworks in the city, and sre
heated by steam, engines for the same
being on the premises.
Esch Of the buildings consists of three
stories, except the hospital, Each floor
forms q separate ward. OF white female
wards, there are nine; OF female negro
wards, two; of white male wards, five,
and one negro male ward The rooms
are situated Oil each side Of the Duild-
irgs, separated by q hallway, which
during the day is freqlented by the
patients, when one may see engaged in
various employments, knitting, sewing,
etc. The Railways are covered with
carpets, and are decorated with the
handiwOTk Of the attendants, who delight
in rendering their wards IS attractive as
possible, ard also with that of the
patients, thus giving most cheerful and
home-l.ke appearance to each ward.
There are from two to three attendants,
according to the eXigencies Of the case,
and here l would say that one is most
sensioly struck with the entire freedom
from fear on the part Of the patients to-